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Beijing Da Xue Xue Bao. Yi Xue Ban =... Jun 2024To investigate the effect of tofacitinib, a pan-Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, on transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)-induced fibroblast to myofibroblast...
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of tofacitinib, a pan-Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, on transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)-induced fibroblast to myofibroblast transition (FMT) and to explore its mechanism. To provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD).
METHODS
(1) Human fetal lung fibroblast 1 (HFL-1) were cultured , and 6 groups were established: DMSO blank control group, TGF-β1 induction group, and TGF-β1 with different concentrations of tofacitinib (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0 μmol/L) drug intervention experimental groups. CCK-8 was used to measure the cell viability, and wound-healing assay was performed to measure cell migration ability. After 48 h of combined treatment, quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blotting were used to detect the gene and protein expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin (FN), and collagen type Ⅰ (COL1). (2) RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbnent assay (ELISA) were used to detect the interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene and protein expression changes, respectively. (3) DMSO carrier controls, 1.0 μmol/L and 5.0 μmol/L tofacitinib were added to the cell culture media of different groups for pre-incubation for 30 min, and then TGF-β1 was added to treat for 1 h, 6 h and 24 h. The phosphorylation levels of Smad2/3 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) protein were detected by Western blotting.
RESULTS
(1) Tofacitinib inhibited the viability and migration ability of HFL-1 cells after TGF-β1 induction. (2) The expression of , and genes of HFL-1 in the TGF-β1-induced groups was significantly up-regulated compared with the blank control group ( < 0.05). Compared with the TGF-β1 induction group, expression in the 5.0 μmol/L tofacitinib intervention group was significantly inhi-bited ( < 0.05). Compared with the TGF-β1-induced group, gene was significantly inhibited in each intervention group at a concentration of 0.5-5.0 μmol/L ( < 0.05). Compared with the TGF-β1-induced group, the gene expression in each intervention group did not change significantly. (3) Western blotting results showed that the protein levels of α-SMA and FN1 in the TGF-β1-induced group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in the expression of COL1A1. Compared with the TGF-β1-induced group, the α-SMA protein level in the intervention groups with different concentrations decreased. And the differences between the TGF-β1-induced group and 2.0 μmol/L or 5.0 μmol/L intervention groups were statistically significant ( < 0.05). Compared with the TGF-β1-induced group, the FN1 protein levels in the intervention groups with different concentrations showed a downward trend, but the difference was not statistically significant. There was no difference in COL1A1 protein expression between the intervention groups compared with the TGF-β1-induced group. (4) After TGF-β1 acted on HFL-1 cells for 48 h, the gene expression of the was up-regulated and IL-6 in culture supernatant was increased, the intervention with tofacitinib partly inhibited the TGF-β1-induced gene expression and IL-6 in culture supernatant. TGF-β1 induced the increase of Smad2/3 protein phosphorylation in HFL-1 cells for 1 h and 6 h, STAT3 protein phosphorylation increased at 1 h, 6 h and 24 h, the pre-intervention with tofacitinib inhibited the TGF-β1-induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation at 6 h and inhibited TGF-β1-induced STAT3 phosphorylation at 1 h, 6 h and 24 h.
CONCLUSION
Tofacitinib can inhibit the transformation of HFL-1 cells into myofibroblasts induced by TGF-β1, and the mechanism may be through inhibiting the classic Smad2/3 pathway as well as the phosphorylation of STAT3 induced by TGF-β1, thereby protecting the disease progression of pulmonary fibrosis.
Topics: Humans; Pyrimidines; Piperidines; STAT3 Transcription Factor; Fibroblasts; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; Myofibroblasts; Lung; Signal Transduction; Fibronectins; Cell Movement; Pyrroles; Actins; Collagen Type I; Janus Kinases; Cell Survival; Smad2 Protein; Lung Diseases, Interstitial; Interleukin-6; Smad3 Protein; Cells, Cultured
PubMed: 38864137
DOI: 10.19723/j.issn.1671-167X.2024.03.018 -
Nature Communications Jun 2024Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have emerged as a dominant non-hematopoietic cell population in the tumour microenvironment, serving diverse functions in tumour...
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have emerged as a dominant non-hematopoietic cell population in the tumour microenvironment, serving diverse functions in tumour progression. However, the mechanisms via which CAFs influence the anti-tumour immunity remain poorly understood. Here, using multiple tumour models and biopsies from cancer patients, we report that α-SMA CAFs can form immunological synapses with Foxp3 regulatory T cells (Tregs) in tumours. Notably, α-SMA CAFs can phagocytose and process tumour antigens and exhibit a tolerogenic phenotype which instructs movement arrest, activation and proliferation in Tregs in an antigen-specific manner. Moreover, α-SMA CAFs display double-membrane structures resembling autophagosomes in their cytoplasm. Single-cell transcriptomic data showed an enrichment in autophagy and antigen processing/presentation pathways in α-SMA-expressing CAF clusters. Conditional knockout of Atg5 in α-SMA CAFs promoted inflammatory re-programming in CAFs, reduced Treg cell infiltration and attenuated tumour development. Overall, our findings reveal an immunosuppressive mechanism entailing the formation of synapses between α-SMA CAFs and Tregs in an autophagy-dependent manner.
Topics: T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts; Humans; Immunological Synapses; Animals; Tumor Microenvironment; Mice; Autophagy; Actins; Autophagy-Related Protein 5; Neoplasms; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Forkhead Transcription Factors; Female; Mice, Knockout
PubMed: 38862534
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49282-1 -
Open Biology Jun 2024Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a monogenic cardiac disorder commonly induced by sarcomere gene mutations. However, the mechanism for HCM is not well defined. Here,...
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a monogenic cardiac disorder commonly induced by sarcomere gene mutations. However, the mechanism for HCM is not well defined. Here, we generated transgenic MYH7 R453C and MYH6 R453C piglets and found both developed typical cardiac hypertrophy. Unexpectedly, we found serious fibrosis and cardiomyocyte loss in the ventricular of MYH7 R453C, not MYH6 R453C piglets, similar to HCM patients. Then, RNA-seq analysis and western blotting identified the activation of ERK1/2 and PI3K-Akt pathways in MYH7 R453C. Moreover, we observed an increased expression of fetal genes and an excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MYH7 R453C piglet models, which was produced by Nox4 and subsequently induced inflammatory response. Additionally, the phosphorylation levels of Smad2/3, ERK1/2 and NF-kB p65 proteins were elevated in cardiomyocytes with the MYH7 R453C mutation. Furthermore, epigallocatechin gallate, a natural bioactive compound, could be used as a drug to reduce cell death by adjusting significant downregulation of the protein expression of Bax and upregulated Bcl-2 levels in the H9C2 models with MYH7 R453C mutation. In conclusion, our study illustrated that TGF-β/Smad2/3, ERK1/2 and Nox4/ROS pathways have synergistic effects on cardiac remodelling and inflammation in MYH7 R453C mutation.
Topics: Animals; Myosin Heavy Chains; Transforming Growth Factor beta; NADPH Oxidase 4; Reactive Oxygen Species; NF-kappa B; Signal Transduction; Swine; Myocytes, Cardiac; Humans; Cardiac Myosins; Disease Models, Animal; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Animals, Genetically Modified; Smad2 Protein; Mutation; Smad3 Protein; Ventricular Remodeling; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic; Rats
PubMed: 38862020
DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230427 -
Stem Cell Research Aug 2024Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the main causes of sudden cardiac death and heart failure and is the leading indication for cardiac transplantation worldwide....
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the main causes of sudden cardiac death and heart failure and is the leading indication for cardiac transplantation worldwide. Mutations in dozens of cardiac genes have been connected to the development of DCM including the Troponin T2 gene (TNNT2). Here, we generated a human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from a DCM patient with a familial history that carries a missense mutation in TNNT2. The hiPSCs show typical morphology of pluripotent stem cells, expression of pluripotency markers, normal karyotype, and in vitro capacity to differentiate into all three germ layers.
Topics: Humans; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells; Troponin T; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line; Male; Karyotype
PubMed: 38861774
DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2024.103467 -
Journal of the American Heart... Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Cardiac Myosins; Animals; Myocardial Contraction; Energy Metabolism; Myocardium
PubMed: 38860415
DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.124.035479 -
BMC Cancer Jun 2024Our study aims to explore the relationship, shared gene signature, and the underlying mechanisms that connect rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to colorectal cancer (CRC).
Integrated multi-omics analyses revealed the association between rheumatoid arthritis and colorectal cancer: MYO9A as a shared gene signature and an immune-related therapeutic target.
BACKGROUND
Our study aims to explore the relationship, shared gene signature, and the underlying mechanisms that connect rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to colorectal cancer (CRC).
METHODS
Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to assess the causality between RA and CRC. Summary statistic data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) leveraging eQTL data was employed to identify the CRC-related causal genes. Integrated analyses of single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing were employed to comprehensively investigate the shared gene signature and potential mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of both RA and CRC. Predictive analysis of the shared hub gene in CRC immunotherapy response was performed. Pan-cancer analyses were conducted to explore the potential role of MYO9A in 33 types of human tumors.
RESULTS
MR analysis suggested that RA might be associated with a slight increased risk of CRC (Odds Ratio = 1.04, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.01-1.07, P = 0.005). SMR analysis combining transcriptome analyses identified MYO9A as a causal gene in CRC and a shared gene signature in both RA and CRC. MYO9A may contribute to tumor suppression, while downregulation of MYO9A may impact CRC tumorigenesis by disrupting epithelial polarity and architecture, resulting in a worse prognosis in CRC. Additionally, MYO9A shows promise as a powerful predictive biomarker for cancer prognosis and immunotherapy response in CRC. Pan-cancer analyses demonstrated MYO9A may have a protective role in the occurrence and progression of various human cancers.
CONCLUSION
RA might be associated with a slight increased risk of CRC. MYO9A is a shared gene signature and a potential immune-related therapeutic target for both CRC and RA. Targeting the MYO9A-mediated loss of polarity and epithelial architecture could be a novel therapeutic approach for CRC.
Topics: Humans; Colorectal Neoplasms; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Myosins; Gene Expression Profiling; Transcriptome; Quantitative Trait Loci; Prognosis; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Biomarkers, Tumor; Multiomics
PubMed: 38858644
DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12466-5 -
Nature Communications Jun 2024Chlamydia invasion of epithelial cells is a pathogen-driven process involving two functionally distinct effectors - TarP and TmeA. They collaborate to promote robust...
Chlamydia invasion of epithelial cells is a pathogen-driven process involving two functionally distinct effectors - TarP and TmeA. They collaborate to promote robust actin dynamics at sites of entry. Here, we extend studies on the molecular mechanism of invasion by implicating the host GTPase dynamin 2 (Dyn2) in the completion of pathogen uptake. Importantly, Dyn2 function is modulated by TarP and TmeA at the levels of recruitment and activation through oligomerization, respectively. TarP-dependent recruitment requires phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and the small GTPase Rac1, while TmeA has a post-recruitment role related to Dyn2 oligomerization. This is based on the rescue of invasion duration and efficiency in the absence of TmeA by the Dyn2 oligomer-stabilizing small molecule activator Ryngo 1-23. Notably, Dyn2 also regulated turnover of TarP- and TmeA-associated actin networks, with disrupted Dyn2 function resulting in aberrant turnover dynamics, thus establishing the interdependent functional relationship between Dyn2 and the effectors TarP and TmeA.
Topics: Chlamydia trachomatis; Humans; Dynamin II; HeLa Cells; Actins; rac1 GTP-Binding Protein; Bacterial Proteins; Chlamydia Infections; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Epithelial Cells
PubMed: 38858371
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49350-6 -
Translational Psychiatry Jun 2024Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMDS) arises from mutations in the terminal region of chromosome 22q13, impacting the SHANK3 gene. The resulting deficiency of the postsynaptic...
Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMDS) arises from mutations in the terminal region of chromosome 22q13, impacting the SHANK3 gene. The resulting deficiency of the postsynaptic density scaffolding protein SHANK3 is associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We examined 12 different PMDS patient and CRISPR-engineered stem cell-derived neuronal models and controls and found that reduced expression of SHANK3 leads to neuronal hyperdifferentiation, increased synapse formation, and decreased neuronal activity. We performed automated imaging-based screening of 7,120 target-annotated small molecules and identified three compounds that rescued SHANK3-dependent neuronal hyperdifferentiation. One compound, Benproperine, rescued the decreased colocalization of Actin Related Protein 2/3 Complex Subunit 2 (ARPC2) with ß-actin and rescued increased synapse formation in SHANK3 deficient neurons when administered early during differentiation. Neuronal activity was only mildly affected, highlighting Benproperine's effects as a neurodevelopmental modulator. This study demonstrates that small molecular compounds that reverse developmental phenotypes can be identified in human neuronal PMDS models.
Topics: Humans; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neurons; Chromosome Deletion; Phenotype; Chromosome Disorders; Synapses; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22; Male; Female; Cell Differentiation; Microfilament Proteins; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child
PubMed: 38858349
DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02947-3 -
PLoS Genetics Jun 2024The development of ectodermal organs begins with the formation of a stratified epithelial placode that progressively invaginates into the underlying mesenchyme as the...
The development of ectodermal organs begins with the formation of a stratified epithelial placode that progressively invaginates into the underlying mesenchyme as the organ takes its shape. Signaling by secreted molecules is critical for epithelial morphogenesis, but how that information leads to cell rearrangement and tissue shape changes remains an open question. Using the mouse dentition as a model, we first establish that non-muscle myosin II is essential for dental epithelial invagination and show that it functions by promoting cell-cell adhesion and persistent convergent cell movements in the suprabasal layer. Shh signaling controls these processes by inducing myosin II activation via AKT. Pharmacological induction of AKT and myosin II can also rescue defects caused by the inhibition of Shh. Together, our results support a model in which the Shh signal is transmitted through myosin II to power effective cellular rearrangement for proper dental epithelial invagination.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Hedgehog Proteins; Cell Adhesion; Signal Transduction; Myosin Type II; Cell Movement; Epithelium; Morphogenesis; Tooth; Epithelial Cells; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
PubMed: 38857279
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011326 -
PloS One 2024The present study aims to investigate the specific protective effects and underlying mechanisms of Ganshuang granule (GSG) on dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced hepatic...
OBJECTIVE
The present study aims to investigate the specific protective effects and underlying mechanisms of Ganshuang granule (GSG) on dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced hepatic fibrosis in rat models.
METHODS
Hepatic fibrosis was experimentally evoked in rats by DMN administration, and varying dosages of GSG were employed as an intervention. Hepatocellular damage was assessed by measuring serum levels of aminotransferase and bilirubin, accompanied by histopathological examinations of hepatic tissue. The hepatic concentrations of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were quantitated via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) within hepatic tissue was evaluated using immunohistochemical techniques. The levels of hepatic interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and a spectrum of interleukins (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10) were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Additionally, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were cultured in vitro and exposed to TNF-α in the presence of naringin, a principal component of GSG. The gene expression levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and matrix metallopeptidase-1 (MMP-1) in these cells were also quantified by qRT-PCR. Proliferative activity of HSCs was evaluated by the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Finally, alterations in Smad protein expression were analyzed through Western blotting.
RESULTS
Administration of GSG in rats with fibrosis resulted in reduced levels of serum aminotransferases and bilirubin, along with alleviation of histopathological liver injury. Furthermore, the fibrosis rats treated with GSG exhibited significant downregulation of hepatic TGF-β1, PDGF, and TNF-α levels. Additionally, GSG treatment led to increased mRNA levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4, as well as decreased expression of α-SMA in the liver. Furthermore, treatment with naringin, a pivotal extract of GSG, resulted in elevated expression of MMP-1 and decreased levels of TIMP-1 in TNF-α-stimulated HSCs when compared to the control group. Additionally, naringin administration led to a reduction in Smad expression within the HSCs.
CONCLUSION
GSG has the potential to mitigate fibrosis induced by DMN in rat models through the regulation of inflammatory and fibrosis factors. Notably, naringin, the primary extract of GSG, may exert a pivotal role in modulating the TGF-β-Smad signaling pathway.
Topics: Animals; Liver Cirrhosis; Signal Transduction; Flavanones; Male; Rats; Smad Proteins; Hepatic Stellate Cells; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Dimethylnitrosamine; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; Liver; Actins
PubMed: 38857261
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304185